Reports: Ravens Offensive Coordinator Hired To Coach Lions

Jim Caldwell reportedly is leaving the Ravens to become the Lions new head coach (AP Photo)

WBAL's Brett Hollander talks with Anne Kramer about Jim Caldwell's future in Detroit and his time in Baltimore Download This File

Jim Caldwell has reportedly been hired as the new head coach of the Detroit Lions after two seasons on John Harbaugh's coaching staff in Baltimore (AP Photo)

Jim Caldwell was hired by the Ravens two years ago to be their quarterbacks coach and was promoted to offensive coordinator late in the 2012 season and the Ravens then went on to win the last Super Bowl (AP Photo)

A person familiar with the situation says the Detroit Lions have hired Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell to be the NFC team's new head coach.

The person spoke Tuesday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the move had not been announced. ESPN first reported the hire.

Caldwell, a 36- year coaching veteran, joined the Ravens as the team's quarterbacks coach in February 2012 and was elevated to offensive coordinator on Dec. 10 and helped the chart the course for the Ravens offense during the team's Super Bowl run.

This past season he was the Ravens offensive coordinator for the entire season.

The Ravens struggled on offense in 2013 and some say the team might've replaced Caldwell if he didn't get find another job. Baltimore ranked 29th on offense overall - 30th rushing and 18th passing - last season with Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice.

San Diego Chargers assistant and former Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt was seemingly Detroit's top choice, but he chose to take the head coaching job at Tennessee on Monday night.

Caldwell arrived in Baltimore after coaching the previous 10 seasons with Indianapolis, including the last three as head coach.

In his first year at the helm in 2009, he led the Colts to the AFC Championship and a berth in Super Bowl XLIV. Caldwell, who earned a Super Bowl ring in 2006 with Indy,spent six seasons tutoring Peyton Manning.

After leading Indianapolis to the Super Bowl after his debut season in 2009, he was fired two years later after a 2-14 season while Manning was injured, dropping his three-year mark to 26-22.

Jim Schwartz was fired as the head coach of the Lions at the end of this past season after five years with the organization.

Schwartz grew-up in Arbutus and went to Mount St. Joseph High School in Baltimore.

Before Caldwell was hired by the Tony Dungy-led Colts in 2002 to be their quarterbacks coach, he had the same job for Dungy with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was fired as the head coach at Wake Forest in 2000 with a 26-63 record over eight seasons. Caldwell, who is from Beloit, Wis., played defensive back for Iowa and began his coaching career in 1977 as a graduate assistant with the Hawkeyes.

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